u

The Preposition U

Level 2

A noun phrase identifies the participant or purpose; predicate-linked u expresses its relation.

How It Works

U normally occurs before the verb or adjective in the predicate phrase. It can mark a recipient, beneficiary, motion goal, purpose or manner. Learn complete constructions: u sheeg means “tell to,” while si fiican … u expresses acting well. Some predicates select u for less literal relations, including needing and similarity.

The associated noun phrase can occur elsewhere in the clause; context identifies the relation. An unexpressed third-person recipient may be understood from the conversation. Object pronouns contract with u, including i + u → ii and ku + u → kuu. Contraction alone does not guarantee that pronoun and preposition refer to the same participant.

Compare kuu karinayaa bariis “am cooking rice for you” with karinayaa bariis “am cooking rice.” Do not insert u for every English “to”: giving verbs can take recipients directly, and certain motion verbs take place goals without a preposition. Ordinary u differs from subject pronoun uu.

Examples (3)

  1. Waxaan Hodan u sheegay warka.

    I told Hodan the news.

    U links the recipient Hodan to sheeg.

  2. Waxaan kuu karinayaa bariis.

    I am cooking rice for you.

    Kuu combines singular object pronoun ku with beneficiary u.

  3. Si fiican ayuu u hadlay.

    He spoke well.

    U links the manner phrase si fiican to the action.

How It Connects

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uLevel 2The Preposition U

Learn This First

Identify the participants and predicate before learning the preverbal relation expressed by u.

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Words in This Pattern

u